As demand for Salesforce.com increases, hiring companies need more certified Salesforce developers and certified Salesforce administrators to implement and maintain their systems. Make yourself more marketable as a Salesforce.com expert and receive Salesforce certification to stand out among other potential employees.

You can receive Salesforce certification in the following paths: Administrator, Advanced Administrator, Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, Developer, Advanced Developer and Technical Architect.

To become certified, study for the exam or learn the material through experience, then take the exam in one or more of the Salesforce certification tracks or paths described below.

Administrator Track

Administrator

Advanced Administrator

Implementation Experts Track

Sales Cloud Consultant

Service Cloud Consultant

Developer Track

Developer

Advanced Developer

Architects Track

Technical Architect

Tests can be scheduled onsite through Salesforce’s global network of Kryterion-sponsored testing centers, which set their own schedules, or as online proctored exams, which allow you to take them remotely from your own computer, monitored by a proctor through a webcam. Online proctored exams have specific system requirements, such as particular webcams, computer operating systems and Internet connections, and can be reviewed here before you schedule an exam.

With the exception of the Advanced Developer and Technical Architect exams, each test costs $200, and subsequent entries are $100 each (if you fail the initial exam), said Salesforce.com Certification expert John Coppedge. For each path, you will need to take a maintenance exam each release (spring, summer or winter) after you pass. The first two yearly release exams are free, but you must pay $100 to renew your certification every third release.

The basic certifications are prerequisites for the advanced certifications, but do aim to take the advanced courses, as employers and recruiters deeply value those certifications. Check with your employer to see if they will help finance your certification.